Karnataka crisis deepens, Yeddyurappa supporters meet BJP top brass

PTI|

Nov 01, 2009, 08.50 PM IST

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NEW DELHI/BANGALORE: The deadlock between rival camps in the BJP government in Karnataka persisted today with chief minister B S Yeddyurappa's emissaries claiming the party's top brass gave an assurance of no change of guard while the dissidents kept the leadership issue still open.

The BJP's top leadership stepped in to attempt to defuse the crisis in its government and met the emissaries, as the war of words between the two sides continued unabated.

Yeddyurappa attacked the dissidents of trying to destabilise his government at a time when the state was grappling with the worst floods while the rival camp led by his ministerial colleagues - the powerful Reddy brothers from Bellary - accused him of "cheating" the people.

"The central leadership, especially (BJP's pointsman for resolving the crisis) Arun Jaitley, made it very clear that there will be no change in leadership," Karnataka BJP unit chief Sadanand Gowda, who led the emissaries comprising state MPs and ministers for a series of meetings with central leaders including BJP chief Rajnath Singh and L K Advani in New Delhi.

Admitting that there were some "small differences" between senior colleagues in the cabinet, he told reporters these will be sorted out in "a day or two". Home Minister V S Acharya was among the emissaries.

"We met L K Advani, Rajnath Singh and Sushma Swaraj and all of them were of the same view that the leadership in Karnataka will not be changed. They have a firm view on this," Yeddyurappa's emissary and former MP Dhananjay Kumar said.

However, sources in the dissident camp said the change in leadership issue is still open. The Reddy brothers - Janardhan Reddy and G Karunakar Reddy - are expected to arrive in the capital tomorrow.

A day after indicating his willingness for a patch-up with the rebels led by Ministers Karunakara Reddy, Janardhana Reddy and Sreeramulu, who have been spearheading a campaign to oust him, Yeddyurappa said "some politicians" were "fighting for the chair".

"In this hour of crisis when lakhs of people have been rendered homeless in the flood havoc and are suffering, some politicians are trying to destabilise the government which does not befit them. They are fighting for the chair. The interests of the state cannot be pledged. I will never allow it", he said.

In Bellary, Janardhana Reddy kept up the tirade without taking the chief minister by name, "Our senior is cheating and lying to the people. If I even mention his name, this function will be tainted."

To a question on whether the Reddy brothers - who are raising the banner of revolt against Yeddyurappa - were emerging very powerful, Gowda said, "I don't think so. I am not ignoring them but just because they own some mines does not mean they are very powerful."

Karnataka Speaker Jagadish Shettar - who is considered close to the Reddy brothers and is camping here - sought to side-step the issue, saying his role was very limited. "This is a crisis between the Chief Minister and the Reddy brothers."

The emissaries also met Arun Jaitley. Acharya said that Jaitley took stock of the political situation in the state and was confident the issue would be resolved soon.

When pressed further on whether there is any possibility of change in leadership in Karnataka, Acharya shot back, "There is no change. This I have said hundred times. That is what my perception is."

"Whatever grievances the other party (dissidents) has, the leadership is open to listening to them and arriving at an amicable solution," Kumar added.